Improving finances is a common resolution for the New Year. In 2023, 53% of Americans who set resolutions wanted to prioritize getting their finances in order. While that figure has dropped to 38% for 2024, it is still the second-most popular resolution after improving fitness.
Unfortunately, most resolutions are abandoned before February rolls around. In fact, studies have found that only 9% of Americans who make resolutions actually complete them. (Read on…)
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DreamHost®, a global leader in web hosting and Managed WordPress services, today announced it has been named “Best WordPress Hosting Provider” in the 2023 Monster’s Award, a recognition of top-tier WordPress solutions administered by TemplateMonster. (Read on….)
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There are 12 people whose decisions will impact the profits and growth for many small businesses next year. Keep a close eye on them. (Read on…)
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Almost half of all workers in the country work for a business with fewer than 500 employees – and that doesn’t even account for the some 27 million small business owners who are their own sole employee.
Unfortunately, because small businesses are the drivers of our economy, they are also a ripe target for cyberattacks. The FBI recently reported that the majority of cybercrime victims are small businesses. (Read on…)
To uncover the key financial metrics pivotal for small business success, we’ve gathered insights from ten industry leaders, including COOs and a content writer. From the importance of monitoring Net Revenue Retention to focusing on profit margins for success, these executives shed light on the numbers that truly matter.
(Read on…)
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Small businesses often struggle with advertising due to limited budgets. However, there are many completely free ways to promote your business online and increase brand awareness. In this article, we will explore the best free small business advertising ideas for 2023 that can help small businesses grow their customer base without breaking the bank.
(Read on…)
More please! →Frustrated with your Website? Fails with D.I.Y. site builders? HERE’S THE ANSWER!
Great for DIY’ers! Not just a website, but a turn-key small business marketing solution.
Here’s The Thing: You Should Spend Your Time On Your Business, Not Struggling To Learn Web Design! (Read on…)
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Being a talented public speaker is a skill that is able to help advance a wide range of careers. The first step in this pursuit typically begins with enrolling in public speaking classes to help you master the craft.
Whether you are a published author trying to promote your new book, a marketing specialist presenting an important pitch at work, or anything in-between, being a great public speaker is something that is sure to be incredibly valuable. (Read on…)
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FRESNO, Calif. (Nov. 8, 2023) – NFIB filed an amicus brief in the case Ghost Golf Inc. et al. v. Gavin Newsom at the California Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District. The case concerns Governor Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the government shutdown of businesses ordered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the separation of powers. (Read on…)
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What do the latest video marketing statistics tell you about growing your small business? The answers will surprise you. 92% of marketers say that videos are an important part of their marketing strategies, and 88% of them accept that videos offer them a positive return on investment (ROI).
If you want to use video content as a marketing tool, we have collected key video marketing statistics below to help you make informed decisions. (Read on…)
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If you’re an up-and-coming entrepreneur, you’re going to face the challenge of getting investment for your small business.
Start-up funding can seem hard to come by, and indeed the funding landscape is not as favourable as it was a few years ago. However, this doesn’t mean that money isn’t available. Great ideas still get funded, but you need to think carefully about the kind of investment you’re going to take, and the terms on which you’ll take it. (Read on…)
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Dan Buettner’s decades-long exploration of centenarians who thrive in the longest-lived communities on Earth is attracting lots of attention.
His new Netflix documentary, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, is trending as a top streaming pick…
Compared with Americans, people in Okinawa are about three times more likely to reach their 100th birthday, according to Buettner’s research. (Read on…)
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Many have asked the question: Does web accessibility positively impact SEO?
To date, there have been no conclusive answers.
So, to see what impact (if any) accessibility has on SEO, we created an independent study.
We discovered some intriguing answers along the way.
And now, we’re sharing our results. (Read on…)
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Big businesses have a wealth of expertise, and the ones on our Champions of Small Business list want to make their know-how available to you.
Key Takeaways
The 2023 Champions of Small Business is our first-annual list of big businesses that are helping entrepreneurs with grants, accelerators, and free resources.
Below find great learning resources and free online courses… (Read on…)
With 950 million members as of July, LinkedIn is poised to soon have a billion users, joining a rarefied three-comma club with the likes of Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Started in 2003 as little more than an online repository for résumés, the Microsoft-owned behemoth has recently transformed. Not only are there more users to post, but they’re posting much more often. The number of LinkedIn posts grew 41% from 2021 to 2023. But it’s the content of the posts that’s shifted the most,.. (Read on…)
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It can be hard to know how to act at work. I want to be my relaxed, authentic self — but sometimes that comes off as way too casual.
For example, I once called my boss “dude.” She’s not that much older than I am, so I slipped into a more laid-back attitude that should probably be reserved for peers. I instantly felt like… (Read on…)
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I’ve now taken the procedure I follow in reviewing sites and converted it into a tool…available free…to help small business owners to improve their online presence by diagnosing and fixing some of the most common website fails.
For some time now, I’ve been performing website audits for business clients in order to help them determine whether they’re getting full value from their website investment. (Read on…)
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WordPress powers almost 43% of all websites and not all of them are in English. In fact, the number of non-English websites is on the rise, with 56% of WordPress sites being created in languages other than U.S. English. This shows there’s a huge opportunity for going multilingual and translating your site in multiple languages.
But getting started can be confusing, even for experienced WordPress users. (Read on…)
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There are always smaller competitors waiting to take your market share, and it’s only a matter of time before you transition from the hunter into the hunted. So you need to think of scaling not just in terms of company growth, but also as a way to build all the elements that make up your value proposition, so that you’re as competitive as possible.
In the choice between growth and scaling, one option isn’t better than the other. You have to decide what works (Read on…)
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After an in-depth performance analysis earlier this year revealed that translations can impact server response times, WordPress contributors proposed half a dozen technical solutions for consideration to improve performance for the ~56% of sites that use translations.
Performant Translations, a feature project by the core Performance Team, is now available as a plugin on WordPress.org. It incorporates some of the proposed solutions and speeds up translations by converting .mo files to .php files, allowing them to be parsed faster and stored in OPcache. (Read on…)
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A small business’ marketing plan plays a critical role in the success of the business. Small businesses that have a clear marketing plan continue to grow and meet their objectives, while those with a poor marketing plan get stuck in survival mode wondering why they are not seeing much momentum.
If you are not seeing much progress in your small business, and or you want to increase your small business’ profitability, then you need to improve your marketing plan. (Read on…)
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Online visitors are pretty savvy and will judge your whole business by what they see in the first 3 seconds, and right now, you have to ask yourself the question: “are my visitors responding well to my logo and branding?” Logo design is tricky ground because people love their logos and I never like to offend, That said, respectfully, logo may not be the most important thing on your website, but it needs to look top notch so logo design should be an important consideration in creating and/or the continuing success of your business. (Read on…)
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Within our global economy, small businesses play a significant role in driving innovation and embodying the entrepreneurial mindset. They are often at the forefront of introducing new products, ideas and services to the market.
…small businesses are no strangers to adversity and face a variety of challenges within the fast-paced and ever-evolving market. (Read on…)
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There are certain activities that we do at particular times each day. We eat breakfast in the morning, lunch at midday, and dinner in the evening. We might make our bed after we get up. We brush our teeth in the morning and then again at night (right?).
There are some activities, however, that are best to do period—meaning it doesn’t actually matter when you do them. One of those things? Taking a walk.
Whether you’re strutting on a #HotGirlWalk or taking a leisurely stroll, the benefits of walking are numerous. (Read on…)
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Over the past 18 months, our firm has seen not just an increase in clients who have been laid off but more meetings than ever with those concerned about the increasingly unstable job market and whether they may lose their job next.
Being financially prepared for unexpected setbacks, such as a layoff, is important. While losing a job can be distressing, having a solid financial plan can help alleviate stress and uncertainty. Here are some key strategies to ensure you are financially prepared if you face a layoff. (Read on…)
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According to a 2021 HubSpot State of Marketing survey, 50% of small business owners say generating qualified leads is their primary digital marketing goal. But generating leads is a top challenge for 41% of content marketers. So, For the growth of a small business, understanding how to generate qualified leads should be a top priority.
While large businesses can speed up the process using special software for generating leads, small businesses with limited budgets can only rely on… (Read on…)
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Do you want your articles to be as well optimized as possible? Do you aim for that number 1 position in the search results? And do you madly chase traffic and clicks? It’s not easy to achieve all these things entirely on your own, but luckily, Yoast is here to help. In this post, we’ll talk you to the process of optimizing your post in the best possible way. We’ll explain the five steps on how to Yoast your post. (Read on…)
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As a small business owner, you’re always searching for ways to attract new customers to increase your revenue and grow the company. Chances are that you’ve spent a significant amount of money on various marketing strategies to promote your business. It can be challenging to decide which type of marketing channel you should invest in, since there are many ways to reach new potential customers.
The good news is that there’s a secret weapon that you can use: inbound marketing…. (Read on…)
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There are many different kinds of small business owners in all stages of their business. Some have just started putting their ideas into action in a startup, while others are in the growth stage or even planning an exit strategy.
No matter which stage your business is in and whether you’re a dreamer or more of a pragmatist, there is one thing you can’t afford not to do. You need a holistic financial plan that takes into account where your business is now and what the plan is for the future. (Read on…)
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60 day warranty (we take care of changes, fixes, etc. while we coach you to work on your site.)
*Not included. (Typically $40-60, we’ll discuss that before you purchase)
| By purchasing from Brass Ring Web Design, you confirm that you (the client) agree to adhere by these terms and conditions of these terms of service. These terms of service represent an agreement between you (the client) and Brass Ring Web Design (the developer) |
| 1. Time for Payment – All invoices are payable upon receipt. The grant of any license or right of copyright is conditioned on receipt of full payment. Any extras must be paid prior to website launch. |
| 2. Default in Payment – The Client shall assume responsibility for all collection of legal fees necessitated by default in payment. |
| 3. Estimates – If this form is used for an estimate or assignment confirmation, the fees and expenses shown are minimum estimates only. Final fees and expenses shall be shown when invoice is rendered. The Client’s approval shall be obtained for any increases in fees or expenses that exceed the original estimate by 10% or more. |
| 4. Expenses – The Client shall reimburse the Developer for all expenses arising from this assignment, including the payment of any sales taxes due on this assignment and shall advance $TBD (if any) to the Developer for payment of said expenses. |
| 5. Progress Reports – The Developer shall contact or meet with the Client on a mutually acceptable schedule to report all tasks completed, problems encountered, and recommended changes relating to the development and testing of the digital media. The Developer shall inform the Client promptly by telephone upon discovery of any event or problem that may significantly delay the development of the work. |
| 6. Changes – The Client shall be responsible for making additional payments for changes requested by the Client in original assignment. However, no additional payment shall be made for changes required to conform to the original assignment description. The Client shall offer the Developer the first opportunity to make any changes. |
| 7. Designee -The Developer shall designate (Edward A. Sanchez) and the Client shall designate one individual as the only designated persons who will send and accept all deliverables and receive and make all communications between the Developer and the Client.Neither party shall have any obligation to consider for approval or respond to materials or instructions submitted other than through the designated persons designated in “website planner form”. Each party has the right to change its designated person upon 5 days written notice to the other. |
| 8. Hosting – The Client authorizes the developer to access their website hosting account for purposes of ascertaining status, settings along with making any necessary changes needed for purposes of this project. |
| 9. Website Maintenance – The Developer agrees to provide the Client with reasonable technical support and assistance to maintain and update the Website after launch during the Warranty Period of 60 days at no cost to the Client. Such assistance shall not exceed 1 hour per calendar month. After the expiration of the Warranty Period, the Developer agrees to provide the Client with reasonable technical support and assistance to maintain and update the Website on the Internet for an annual fee of N/Afor a period of N/A years after the last day of the Warranty Period payable thirty (30) days prior to the commencement date of each year of the Maintenance Period. Such maintenance shall include correcting any errors or any failure of the Website to conform to the specifications. Maintenance shall not include the development of enhancements to the originally contracted project. |
| 10. Confidential Information – The Developer acknowledges and agrees that the source materials and technical and marketing plans or other sensitive business information, including all materials containing said information, which are supplied by the Client to the Developer or developed by the Developer in the course of developing the digital media are to be considered confidential information. Information shall not be considered confidential if it is already publicly known through no act of the Developer. |
| 11. Return of Source Information – Upon the Client’s acceptance of the Golden Master, launch of website or upon the cancellation of the project, the Developer shall provide the Client with all copies and originals of the source materials provided to the Developer. |
| 12. Ownership of Copyright – Client acknowledges and agrees that Developer retains all rights to copyright in any original artwork created by developer. |
| 13. Ownership and Return of Artwork – The Developer retains ownership of all original artwork, in any media, including digital files, whether preliminary or final. The Client waives the right to challenge the validity of the Developer’s ownership of the art subject to this agreement because of any change or evolution of the law and will return all artwork within thirty (30) days of use. |
| 14. Cancellation – In the event of cancellation of this assignment, ownership of all copyrights and the original artwork shall be retained by the Developer If, for any reason, client should decide to cancel this order, 15% of total shall be retained by designer until such point as work commences. Once work commences, if assignment is cancelled, fee owed will be based upon actual work completed. (See rates above) |
| 15. Ownership of Engine – The Developer retains ownership of all engines used in the production of the product unless those engines are provided by the Client. |
| 16. Credit – The Developer shall be given credit in footer of site in this form: WordPress Website by Brass Ring Web Design (incl. Link) |
| 17. Alterations – Any electronic alteration of original art (color shift, mirroring, flopping, combination cut and paste, deletion) creating additional art is prohibited without the express permission of the Developer. The Developer will be given first opportunity to make any alterations required. Unauthorized alterations shall constitute additional use and will be billed accordingly. |
| 18. Limitation of Liability – Client agrees that it shall not hold the Developer or his/her agents or employees liable for any incidental or consequential damages which arise from the Developer’s failure to perform any aspect of the Project in a timely manner, regardless of whether such failure was caused by intentional or negligent acts or omissions of the Developer or a third party. Furthermore, the Developer disclaims all implied warranties including the warranty of merchantability & fitness for a particular use |
| 19. Unauthorized Use and Program Licenses – The Client will indemnify the Developer against all claims and expenses arising from uses for which the Client does not have rights to or authority to use. The Client will be responsible for payment of any special licensing or royalty fees resulting from the use of graphics programs that require such payments |
| 20. Delays -The Developer will make every good faith effort to meet or exceed any mutually agreed deadlines. It is understood that this is a collaborative process & client agrees to provide completed questionnaire(s), text & image content within a reasonable period of time. We consult with you throughout this process so you’ll have guidance. A typical website project takes 6-8 weeks. If an excessive amount of weeks pass and content is not received for us to work with, do understand that reopening files & getting reacquainted with aged projects poses an extra challenge &likely increase overall increase in time expenditure. For this reason, a late fee may apply. Understand that delays can also negatively impact our other active clients’ projects. We will discuss creating content for you or hiring out content creation to help you move forward. |
| 21. Excessive Contact – We are in business to be of service & do not apply strict limits to the amount of support we give to our clients. The client understands that the developer must ensure it is able to provide quality service to all its clients, and that no clients should be disadvantaged by the behavior of others. Training time: Typically up to 3 hours of 1-on-1, in person or by phone after launch to ensure designated staff is able to carry out website content management, etc. Coaching time: During 60 day post-launch warranty, we will support trainee(s) to ensure confidence. Typically, 3 total hours but we are dedicated to getting you confident and capable by the end of your warranty period. |
| 22. Dispute Resolution – Any disputes in excess of $5000.00 (maximum limit for small claims court) arising out of this Agreement shall be submitted to binding arbitration before the Joint Ethics Committee or a mutually agreed upon arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The Arbitrator’s award shall be final, and judgment may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The Client shall pay all arbitration and court costs, reasonable attorney’s fees, and legal interest on any award of judgment in favor of the Creator. |
| 23. Acceptance of Terms – Payment for this system indicates acceptance of above terms & conditions. |
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